The only time I've been here was for my friend and colleague's improv graduation show, so I'm…read morebasing my assessment on my impressions that evening, although there could be much more that this relic has to offer. When I first arrived, there was a line almost around the block for the much larger theatre next door. I was blown away that an improv show could pull such a crowd. That is, until a poster in the corner of my eye directed me through a neighboring door and up several flights of stairs to the Phoenix. It turns out the improv show had a huge crowd as well. The space my friend and her troupe (is that how I should refer to them?) was performing in was relatively small for a theatre, packed to the rafters and hot as all hell. I spent the performance leaning against a wall while many sat on the floor since the seating was all taken. It wasn't ideal, but we were there to watch some talented improvers (again, is that a word?) show their skills, and for that reason I thought it was a great atmosphere for such a show. I support local theatre, and this unique setting is exactly the kind of place where you'll find local performances you'd never see anywhere else. I'd like to see if there is more that this building has to offer. For example, is it just one theatre or several? Whatever the case, I had a fantastic time and consider the dated building and strange layout part of the Phoenix Theatre's charm.

The gorgeous Molly R. is in an improv show. (http://www.un-scripted.com/) In this show she sings,…read moredances and makes up funneh stuff. It's a very good show and it's playing right now at the Phoenix Theater. Tonight was opening night and I went to cheer her on. The Phoenix Theater is nice - it's in an odd building - right next to Ruby Skye. It's on the 6th floor of a building otherwise full of offices. The theater is an intimate little black box stage with a small lobby and not a bad seat in the house. I've been here multiple times before and it's one of many really nice rental houses in San Francisco where independent theater companies can house their short run shows. Of course, Un-Scripted Theater Company is fabulous - but, I already mentioned that in my review of them. Every once in a while you have to just be useful as opposed to being funny and cool... there ya go. Goodnight San Francisco!

Variety....and lots of it...One of the best shows I've been to in along time with so many talented…read moreperformers. The Venue was beautiful...The MC was fabulous...funny, witty, and so talented... There was a great variety of talent from Burlesque, to Pole to Chair Dancers. Best part was location was great...walking distance to BART, and lots of close parking. We got there very close to starting time, and we still found parking only 2 blocks away! Oh...they even had and adorable Candy girl selling lots of goodies. This is going to be an ongoing show, so if you haven't been....make sure to make the next one..

I have been to all of the shows held so far. Each show has been a great experience! I would suggest…read moreVolare to both those who already love pole and burlesque and those who have never been before.

I'm a Harry Potter fan and heard this was playing in San Francisco so I HAD to buy a ticket even if…read moreI had to go solo. The lodge to me were the best seats to get to watch the show!! But let's get to the important stuff, the play! OMG, one word- magical! It exceed my expectations and I know I wasn't the only one. The people around me were in awe of the magic and illusion throughout. If you do anything in San Francisco, you must check this play out! It really doesn't matter if you are a Harry Potter fan or not. It will blow your mind!

TOTALLY RECOMMEND! The production is exceptional and…read moreamazing! Cast was superb! You don't have to know HP to appreciate the production and the show in its entirety. It will make you want to go back. We were in awe!!! HP products are sold from tees to scarves and chocolates. You can bring your own water bottle.

I say support local theater...no matter how challenging it may be to experience…read more So I was watching this episode of "That Girl" on DVD where struggling bouffant-challenged actress Ann Marie is in an experimental play called "A Bunch of Artichokes". She makes her Brylcreem-saturated boyfriend Donald come see her in it, which of course, forces him to confess he hated it. Donald was not an open-minded fellow, at least artistically, and well, I have to admit I may not be either... First, it's good to know theater is alive and kicking in all sorts of venues throughout the city. I like the big shows at the Orpheum, and I like the small ones like the spartan production I saw of Stephen Sondheim's "Assassins" performed by the Custom Made Theater Company. I even braved crossing 6th Street to see that one. So I came to this one with an open mind....really.... The Crowded Fire Theater Company is performing a ninety-minute play by Charles Mee called "Gone" at the SF Playhouse up on Sutter through March 2nd. I saw it last night, and from what I could tell, it was a meditation on personal loss using a variety of formats (song, monologues, performance art, etc.) and snatches of works from all sorts of writers to induce discussions about grieving. It follows an omnibus format without providing any single narrative thread. That may be the rub. Some people respond viscerally to such treatments. Others, like me, get easily confused despite moments of honest profundity. There are four in the cast, all quite talented (though the women definitely seem much more alive than the men), and the set is made up of a sandbox filled with dirt, lots of movable doors, a couple of lamps, and things to tape on the wall. The props are used in an expressionistic manner, and the actors alternate moments of whimsy with scenes of poignancy. The bits are so brief and often confusing in nature, that the irony of the comments went over my head. At the same time, the emotional disconnectedness of Mr. Mee's piece is probably intentional since we are meant to react to the abyss into which each character is afraid to fall. Of the cast, Mollena Williams is the standout since she conveys the currents of gravitas and humor much more fluently than the others. Constantly flouncing around in her gauzy dress, Marilee Talkington bears such a striking resemblance to Molly Shannon that I was afraid she was going to hurl herself through a wall. The energy of this production is rewarding even if the play itself is rather questionable. Here's a promo video for the production... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2UY_EG2ea4

I went to see CFT's performance of "Gone," by Charles Mee. I still have Montgomery Gentry in my…read morehead and the smell of fresh dirt in my short-term memory... I really liked the creative use of lamps and the set design, and enjoyed watching the cast puttering around when it wasn't their turn to speak. I also enjoyed being able to visit with the cast after the show and learn more about how they put the production together. I didn't mind the seemingly random tributes to grief and loss. In fact, it was refreshing to see others experiencing it instead of doing so myself (holla, 2007). Some of the moments were so raw, honest, and touching that I found myself nodding and saying "mmm hmm" to myself. The insomniac character simultaneously bugged and bored me, but I liked that actor in other roles and thought the cast as a whole was very talented. I recommend this show to those folks that appreciate subtle, lyrical, poignancy and don't require a linear plot.

Luscious & Sexy!…read more SITREP I've seen this gorgeous, gregarious, gallant band of women all over the Bay Area, at BIMBOS and the DNA LOUNGE and other locations lucky enough to host them. SETUP Performing the best in the styles of burlesque and vaudeville, the Devil-Ettes are today's answer to your craving for sexy live performance that you are not embarrassed or shy to take your parents (or signficant other, for that matter) to. SPECIAL APPEARANCES They and their individual members are particularly well-featured guests are many a HUBBA HUBBA at the DNA Lounge or Uptown in Oakland. I have also been lucky to catch one or two of them when they are featured in a special performance at VIVA LAS VEGAS usually during the Easter Weekend in Las Vegas. THE LOWDOWN The Devil-Ettes will leaving you screaming for more "sexy"!

Love the Devil-Ettes. Fabulous burlesque troupe. Seen them all over the Bay, and even had them…read moreperform at my birthday party way back in the day. A must see for San Francisco and the Bay Area.

The Misfit Cabaret's Circus was a ton of fun this past weekend, a spectacular show consisting of…read moreamazing music, a bit of burlesque, and your classic circus performers but with a unique twist... strongman, contortionist, aerialist, clown, and yes even a lion. The show began with a great medley performed by the awesome and talented Darling Misfit band, on the drums, bass, accordian, and piano (and a great sound system in the theater to go along with that). In fact, the music for the entire show was outstanding, a combination of songs and snippets of well known hits (including Willy Wonka's Pure Imagination, My Chemical Romance's Welcome to the Black Parade, and The Beatles' I Am the Walrus) as well as some of Kat's originals. Kat Robichaud brought energy, passion, entertainment, vocal artistry, and lots of personality on stage, and of course plenty of smiles. The show was about 1 hour 30 minutes long with a 15 minute intermission. There was a small bar in the lobby of the Alcazar Theatre for snacks and drinks (but a very limited menu and only cash/venmo payments accepted). Every moment of this "circus" was engaging and unpredictable, in a good way, and the staff and cast members simply added to a wonderful atmosphere and experience.

Amazing show. Vastly entertaining and well worth the money. The music were such a vibe.read more

So I'm not going to lie, one of my closest friends is a part of the cast here. But if this was a…read morebad production, I probably just wouldn't write the review. And it's not a bad production. (Trust me, I've seen them) Ultimately, this show, nay this CAST, is tighter than a duck's ass. Or a nun's c**t maybe, kitties if you will. (sorry, urban dictionary ran out of sayings) So here's the premise. Improvised sitcom. Everyone has a pre-developed character but no script. Which wouldn't necessarily be a big deal if people, regular, long time improvisers even, weren't walking out and asking the cast "which part of this was scripted? No, really, which part?" and never believing the idea that it's *completely* unscripted. Yeah. See above if you missed it the first time. The character Duchess is the best. She is kind of a minor character in the grand scheme of things but damn does she comes up with the best one liners. Basically the punk rock, de-sexualized, cynical(?), British of Joan from Mad Men. So good. I've seen this show twice and most definitely will go back again. Everyone on in the cast is so on it, so quick. I knew this before I went, having seen the majority of them in other productions, which made me all the more excited to see the show but it is truly impressive to see how none of them miss a beat. Of course, some things fall flat and some things don't work but when it works, it WORKS. And ultimately the things that don't work remind you that this is IMPROV, which makes it all the better. So yeah, do yourself a favor and go see yourself some seriously good improv. You don't want to miss the kitties.

FUTURESTYLE '79 In the ever exciting offices of the…read moremetropolitan culture magazine, Future Style, there's never a dull moment. Featuring a colorful cast of characters including wild-eyed staff writers, overworked and underpaid management, devil may care reception, and wave riding advertising specialists. Set in the midst of 1979, this improvised serial is just what the new decade ordered. Futurestyle '79 is a live, fully improvised sitcom played against the backdrop of San Francisco in 1979. The show is set in the publishing offices of life and style Magazine Future Style during the last 6 months of the 1970's. The editor, publisher, writers and staff of Future Style must predict the taste and trends of the future while attempting to deal with a rapidly changing present. Check out futurestyle79.blogspot.com for updates, promos, articles from the magazine and all the extra material you can handle! Dates From September 22, 2010 8:00 PM Through October 27, 2010 8:00 PM Tickets $20 per show or season pass $50 at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/126712 www.futurestyle79.blogspot.com

We love musicals and have seen many on Broadway over the years…read more This musical is a wonderful production for a small theatre. We liked it so much more than some of the duds we've seen over the years. We didn't like "Matilda" - small, singing British voices rendered the entire musical practically non-discernible; "Spamalot", "Something Rotten" just to name a few. We both agreed that this musical deserves to go to Broadway and I hope it makes it. Amelie is played by Samantha Banks, who starred as Eponine in the movie musical, Les Miserables with Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman has demonstrated her vocal chops in other film credits and on stage. And Adam Chanler-Berat, also with TV and Broadway credits (Peter in Peter and the Starcatcher) had one scene where he held a singing note for so long it reminded me of when we saw Kenny G hold a note on his sax for multiple minutes (his record is over 45 minutes!). I remember seen Adam on the TV show, "The Good Wife". The show is adorably funny at times (If you like "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, you will like this too), great music and lyrics, contemporary, good singing and performances and the 9 yr. old NYC performer, Savvy Crawford is a much better singer and performer than the one who played "Matilda" in NYC, in my opinion. Her diction while singing is so much clearer and her voice carries enough that I didn't have to strain to hear the words or ask, "Does anyone have hearing aids I can borrow?" The show is extended to 10/18. I hope it extends further as I told my niece to go get tickets to see it if she can. I'd see this show again and if it makes it to Broadway where more money will be dumped into costumes and stage props, I'd like to see it again. Unfortunately, there are no CDs for this production, yet. We plan on getting that (the music/lyrics are that good) when a CD becomes available when it gets to Broadway. After the show, we started watching the 2001 Amelie movie. We saw it years ago but couldn't remember it. I would recommend you NOT watch the movie if you're going to see the musical. See it AFTER you see the musical. You will enjoy the musical much more.